Automatic weighing-machine.



No. 882,437. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

WHIIBHORN. AUTOMATIC WBIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) APR. 24, 1907.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908 T. WHITEHORN. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THOMAS WiliIlEl'lOliN, OF COBURG, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

AUTITQMATIC WEIGHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17', 1908.

Application filed April 24, 1907. Serial No. 370,066.

To all 'whom it may concern;

Be it lmown that l, THOMAS Wurrnnoim, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 19 Munro street, Coburg, in the State of Victoria, Australia, mechanic, have in vented an improved Automatic Machine for Weighing Tea, Flour, and such Like Suhstances, oi which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in a machine for autounttically weighing tea, Hour and such like substances, and discharging them into receptacles conveniently, situated near the machine.

with machines at present in use for this purpose it isdiihcult to. obtain the correct WPl llt as the cut-oil"has generally to act against the full feed and the slightest error in the adjusting of some involves a con'iparativel large one in thewelght of the sub stance. it is mainly with the object of more elliciently overcoming this defect that .l have devised the'present inventionwhereby the rate. of discharge of the nutterial is reduced when the quant ty is approximating the required amount. I attain this object by the use oi a grid which autom tically moves across the discharge end of the supply hopper and considerably restricts the rate of discharge of material into the weighing receptacle. Upon the desired quantity heing measured in the. latter the disclyirgo of the material is stopped by springdoors and then. the bottom of the weighing receptacle is opened and the weighed contents discl ,rged when said receptacle autoi'na tically returns to he again filled and both the grid and spring doors are opened again.

The whole of the mechanism with the exception o'l that operating the feeding and stirring device, is controlled by. electromagnets, the circuits oi which are completed by the oscillation of the balance Weighing lever.

and the only labor necessary to work the machine is that ol feeding the material into the hopper and removing the bags, cartons or the like into which the. weighed quantities are fed.

The invention will now he described in detail with the aid of the accompanying drnwin which cmnprise l- Figure l a vertical so: ion (partly in clevai'ion) oi" the whole machine showing the parts in position for starting. Fig. i is a Fig. 2 a front elevation of portion of the machine, Fig. 3 a similar side elevation thereof: Fig. 4 a horizontal section showing the grid in its closed osition. Fig. 5 a plan of the right hand ha f of the machine. Fig. 6 a vertical section showing one form of contact making device employed. Fig. 7 a vertical section through the discharge chute showin the catch that holds the hinged bottom the'weighing receptacle, and Fig. 8 a vertical section through the upper end of the 110 per showing the mechanism for driving the eeding and stirring device.

It will be noticed by reference to the above described drawings, that Fig. 1 is drawn to a smaller scale than the other "figures.

According to this invention there is aconveniently shaped supply hopper 1 secured'to a standard 2 and wh ch is provided with both feeding and stirring mechanism. by means of which the material is forced down to the discharge end 3 of said hopper. Said mechanism comprises a vertical shaft 4. rotated by any suitable gearing 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, and provided at its lower end with. blades 6 or. with projecting arms 7 bent either downwardly or upwardly. In addition .to such mechanism. it is preferred to employ other stirrers when weighing finely grained material such as. flour in order to prevent same clogging in the hopper. These consist of adjustable stout, arms 8 projectingradiall'y I and bent at their ends which rare secured to the shaft 4 at any height preferred.

Below the above mechanism and ncarthe lower end of the dischargeend 3 of the hop per, which is preferably squared is a grid 9,

9 made by preference in two parts and com iv prising a number of horizontal barsconnected together at their outer ends and which are adapted to slide through holes in the sides of the hopper. The spaces between the bars of the grid are regulated to suit the class of substance being weighed. Each grid is rigidly attached at one end of a frame or lever 10, the other end of which consists of a flat metal plate 11 and l orins the armature of a pair of electrk.iniagnets 12, 12 (Figs. 2 and'3). The lovers are pivoted on bars 13 journaled on the front and rear of the hopper and are moved in one direction by the electro-mag-' nets 12, 12 and in the opposite direction by springs 14 securedfto' the hopper and hes-ring 'against the lower arms of said le rs.

dingmmnuitic view oi a lull electric circuit The swing of the grids is regulated hy a pair used with the structure shown in .l ig. 7 l oradgustohlestops'oi againstwhichthearinature 11 abuts when released by the electromagnets 12, 12. When the electro-magnets are energized the armature 11 is attracted and the grids 9, 9, are opened or separated as in Fig. 3, but when the electric current is broken the spring 14 forces the two parts of the grid together as in Fig. 4.

The current of the electro-niagnetsis cutoit' by the breaking of a contact, one pair of points 15 of which are formed on a bracket or contact making board 16 on the standard 2 while the other pair of points 17 are formed on the ends of the balance lever 18 which end is the op osite to that on which the weighing receptac e 19 is secured. It will thus be seen that the clectro-magnets 12, 12 are cut out of circuit when the end of the lever 18 rises.

At the lower squared end of the hopper two of the sides are hinged on rods 20 and adapted to form doors 21, 21 controlled by spring 26 which is employed for temporarily closing the hopper when the desired weight of material is passed into the weighing receptacle. The hinge rods 20 are provided with arms 22 which in conjunction with each door forms aglever which is connected by a link 23 to a spring block 24 adapted to slide on a vertical rod 25 on the side of the hopper. Said block is supported and held up against the pressure of its spring 26 by a trigger 27 formed on one end of a pivoted lever 28, the other end of which is bent and over-balanced and provided with an armature 29 adapted to be operated by a pair of electro-magnets 30, 30 on the hopper which are put in or out of circuit by two pairs of contact points 31, 32. One of each pair of points 31 is formed on the bracket 16 and the other 32 on an over-balanced lever 33 fulcrumed on a pivot 34 on the bracket and bearing at its other end against the underside of an enlargement 36 on the end of the balance lever 18. Such contact is thus only made and the electromagnets energized when the lever 33 is permitted to fall by the raising of the right hand or weighted end of the balance lever 18. lVhen the armature 29 is attracted by the electro-magnets 36 the trigger 27 is released, and the block 24 springs downwardly thus closing the doors 2], 21 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The doors are opened again by a bifurcated arm 37, on the opposite end of the balance lever, striking against the underside of the block 24 and compressing its spring 26 and approximately at the same end ofthe balance lever, opposite to that of the rece tacle, is a horizontal bar 40 along which sides an adjustable balance weight 41. Upon the enlargement 36 on the weighted end of the lever is a block 42 which when using abuts against a downwardly extending stop 43 formed on the end of a spring controlled horizontal rod 44, suitably journaled on the bracket or contact making board 16 which rod is provided with an armature 45 under the control of a pair of electro-magnets 46, 46. Connected with the latter are contacts one point 47 of which is formed on the bracketand the others 48 on a spring 49 by ivhich the contact is normally broken as in The contact maker comprises a heavy metal ball 50 adapted to roll from one end to the other along an adj ustably over-balanced tube 51 fulcrunled on thepivot 34 and provided with a hole 52 on its underside above the contact 48 on the spring 49. A projecting arm 53 on the end of said tube Les beneath one end of the lever 33 so that the the balance lever normally keeps it down and the contacts broken. hen the enlargement of the balance lever rises the end of the tube 51 falls (Fig. 6) and the ball 50 rolls to said end and dropping partially through the hole 52 in the tube depresses the spring 49 thus making the contact 47, 48 and energizing the electro-magnets 46, 46. The armature 45 is thus attracted and draws the stop 43 free of the block 42 which then rises and permits the contact 31, 32 to be made for the purpose heretofore described. The above described stop 42, in conjunction with the rolling ball contact maker accomplishes a very important function in the operation of the machine, its object being to overcome the force of n'iatcrial pouring rapidly into the weighing I'OLOPHUJlC when the desired weight is almost obtained. The force ol the falling material would tilt the balance lcvcr sullicicntly far to make the contact 3], 32 and close the hopper doors 2], 21 before the requirmL weight was obtained if the electrically controlled stop 43 were not employed.

The weighted end of the balance lover rises very suddenly when the desired weight is nearly obtained and the function of the stop is to check same temporarily while' the substai'ice trickles slowly through the grid and the duration of said check is determined by the time taken tor the ball 50 to roll from one end of thc tubc'5l to the otherwhen it makes the contact 47, 48, and the. stop 43 is then withdrawn and the slowly trickling material causes the balance lover to rise slowly until the desired weight is obtained when the doors ol the hopper are closed,

The receptacle If) is rovidod on one side with a pivoted ovcr-ba anced hook or catch 54 (Figs. 1 and 7), adapted to engage a projecting ,oin on the end of the liii'igcd bottom 38. W hen said receptacle tells with its measured contents, the weighted end 5t) ol' the catch contacts vrith an adjustable projeoting arm on the side of a chute 58 which frees said catch from the pin so that, the hinged bottom swings down and allows the contents of the receptacle to be discharged through the cluite into the bag cor ton orthe like beneath. When the receptacle again rises by means ol the counterbalance weight 41 a curved projection 59 on the hinged end of the bottom 38 eoi'itactswitlr a curved stop 60 on the side of the chute-58 and so swings said bottom up when the pin tl'icreon again engages with the catch 54.

The electric circuits are not shown in the drawings, but it is to be understood that the electro-magnets are energized by an electric current; obtained from any suitable source of electric il'WWG/l. The contacts for directing the current to the magnets are prctcral'ily of the mercury wclltype.

The sequence of operatioi'is is as lolloivs The niacl he is normally in the position showi'i '1 that is with the bottom doors 21, 21 oi the hopper, and the grid f), 9, open and the bottbm 31s of the Weighingreceptacle 19 closed, said grid being kept open by the electro-inagne s12, 12 by reason of the con tact 15, i7. The material l'e'd rapidly down into ,the receptacle by the rotating stirrers until the desired weight is nearly ol tained when the Weighted end of the balance lever 18 rises and causes the block 42 to abut I and the lever 33 to tilt and the electro-in'agnets 4G, 46 are put in circuit by the contacts These electro-inag ncts thus draw back the stop 43 and the bz'dance lever l8 rises higher which allows the lever 33 to tilt further until the contact 31, 332 is made at which time the desired Weight of material is inthe receptacle. This latter contact throws the current into the elecho-magnets Ill), 30

bottom doors 21, 21 ot the lmpper sharply. The receptacle continues to descend when no catch isreleased and the bottom 3% 0 erred. so that the contents are dischar 'cd m l h through the chute oh into the bag: carton or the like. When trecd ol its load. the lever lb;

returns by noa-ns o'l its balance weight 4],

its bottom is mitomaticaliy closed by the .arm 59 and stop 60 and the spring: block Z l is raised by the bifurcated a,rm ii? on. s-iid lcver which op i the bottom doors 2], 2-2 ol" the hopper. rprcxnnatcly at the same 46, and the stop 43 springs out and when the balance lever finally comes to rest the con.- tact 15, 17 is restored, the electro-magnets 12, l? energized. and the grid 9, 9 again openedv ll avinc non, particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. An automatic machine for Weighing tea, llour, and like substances, comprising a balmice-lever, 'a Weighing receptacle at one end thereof, an automatically controlled l'iinpgcd. bottom for the receptacle, affeed hoppr above said receptacle pro vided at its dis charge end. ith a movable grid, a pair of hi ged doors below the latter, and automatic means for closing said grid prior, to the closinc oil the doors.

2. In an automatic machine of the class d QSOllbGCl, a balance lever, a weigl'iing receptacle at one end thereof, an automatically controlled hinged bottom for the re I-eptaele, a feed hopper above said receptacle and having a Feeding device therein and provided with a spring-operated grid, a pair of springcontrolled hinged doors below the grid, a series of electro-magnets adapted to be automatically energized by the tilting of the balance lever for holding said grid open and allowing said hinged doors to close.

3. ln amachinc oi' the class described, a hopper having; in its discharge end a grid formed in two parts, springs for closing. such parts, a pair of automatically controlled elec trmmagnets for opening said parts, a pair of spring-operated hingojd doors situated below said. grid and adapted to be opened by the balance lover, a pair of electro-magnets, contactspcarrierl by the balance lever to! engagement with the clectro-magnets, and a trigger which frees the trigger 27, and allows the 1 spring block 24 to descend which closes the magnets to hold open.

hopper, an automatically controlled movable grid in its discharge end, a pair of hinged doors below said grid, an arm on each door,

a spring-controlled vertical sliding block, a link for connecting each arm with the block, a pivoted balance lever having a bifurcated arm for raising said block, a trigger for suporting said block, a pivoted over-latlance lever carrying the trigger, an armature associated with the lever, and a pair ot electromagnets automatically over-balance lever.

6. In a machine of the class described, a balance lever provided with a receptacle at one end, an automatically controlled hinged bottom for the latter, a hopper above said receptacle and having at its (.lischarge end a movable grid, :1 pair ol' hinged doors below the grid, an adjustable weight and contact carried by said balance lever for controlling said grid, an enlargement on said lever, a pair of pivoted contact makers depressible by the enlargement, a stop, a block on said enlargen'ient adapted when rising to tem porarily abutagainst the stop. a springoperated rod carrying the stop, and an armature carriedby the rod and controlled by one contact maker, said other contact maker controlling the hinged doors ol the hopper.

7. In a machine of the class describ d, a pivoted over-balance rolling ball contact maker, a balance lever having a weighted end adapted to bear upon the pivoted overbalanee rolling ballcontact maker, a laterally movable stop above said end, and a pair ol electro-lnagnets in circuit and having contact points"operated b said ball contact maker.

8. ln a machine ot' the class described, an over-lmlance pivoted contact lever, a weighted end balance lever having an enlargement at its weighted end adapted to bear upon one end ol the overbalance .pivoted contact lever, spring-(tom's controlled by the over-balance lever, a pair of electro-mnguels, a stop controlled b the latter and adapted to temporarily check the rising ol the weighted end ol' the balance lever, and a rolling ball contact maker automatically causing the electro-maguets to be controlled by the i l t l l l I l l l l l energized during the movement of the balance lever.

9. In a machine of the class described, a weighted end balance lever having an enlargement, an overbalance lever contact maker, a. bracket for pivotally connecting the contact maker, said enlargement adapteda pivotal tube having a hole in its underside,

a ball adapted to roll inside said tube, a pair of contact points beneath said hole and cooperative. with the ball for automatically controlling the balance lever, and a spring cooperative with the contact points.

1]. In a machine of the class described,a balance lever, a receptacle mounted on one end thereol" and having a hinged bottom, a lateral )in associated with the bottom, an over-ba anee catch pivoted on said receptacle and engageable with the pin, a tixed projecting arm, the weighted end of said catch being adapted, when descending, to strike the arm to free said catch, a curved arm on the hinged end of said bottom, and a lixed stop cooperative with the arm to strike thelatter when the bottom is rising to close said bottom.

12. In a machine'ot the class described, a feed hopper having a reduced discharge end, a rotatable shal't centrally arranged in said hopper, blades on the lower end of said shaft and having projecting b'entarms, and bent arms adjustably secured to said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'll IOMAS WllI'lEllOltN. Witnesses:

lCuwAuo W.-vrnns, WAL'rm: (3. lliua'r. 

